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Catch up on the latest news and press releases about CMS – the firm, latest developments and press coverage regarding CMS. Read all about the newest developments in the legal industry.



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17/04/2024
CMS advises Austrian Airlines on sale of Austrian Airlines Technik Bratislava
Press release - 17 April 2024An international team of CMS lawyers has provided comprehensive legal advice to Austrian Airlines AG on the sale of the Slovakian company Austrian Airlines Technik Bratislava (ATB) to the Dutch aircraft maintenance provider SAMCO Aircraft Main­ten­ance. Es­tab­lished in 2006, ATB has been offering first-class maintenance services specifically to regional aircraft operators. Closing the deal in early April, CMS supported the company’s successful sale to SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance, which expands its base maintenance footprint in Europe as a consequence. In the course of the acquisition, the CMS team contributed its international expertise in corporate law/M&A matters and also provided extensive legal advice on financing aspects and competition law. “We are excited to have supported Austrian Airlines on this transaction and are pleased that our expertise in cross-border M&A matters contributed to the smooth execution of the deal,” says Alexander Rakosi, a partner at CMS and a member of the corporate transactions team in Vienna. The CMS core transaction team consisted of partners Alexander Rakosi and Florian Mayer (both Vienna, Corporate/M&A) and attorney-at-law Martina Gavalec (Bratislava, Corporate/M&A), and was supported by partner Dieter Zandler (Vienna, Antitrust), associate Rebecca Herlitz (Vienna, Corporate), associate Ján Ševčík (Bratislava, Dispute Resolution), and legal trainee Matthias Torggler (Vienna, Corporate Transactions). On the buyer side, BarentsKrans (Netherlands) and Kinstellar (Slovakia) were involved in the transaction.
15/04/2024
Grow, flow, show: CMS relies on strong values in new employer branding
Press release - 15 April 2024In the contest for top talent, CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz is wowing candidates with a new look and feel, as well as an inclusive work environment that sets future-facing industry standards for maximum flexibility, international career opportunities, and great working conditions. Its employer promise is clear: We individuals win. CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz, one of the largest and most renowned law firms in Austria and the CEE region, is positioning itself as an employer with a strong brand identity in the contest for top talent. The firm developed its future-facing employer branding collaboratively on the basis of cross-de­part­ment­al and transnational interviews and workshops. The resulting relaunch is an authentic reflection of CMS both internally and externally, giving candidates a clear idea of what CMS stands for as an employer, what makes it special, and what sets it apart from competitors.  Diversity as the basis of shared success   The new employer branding aligns with the new employer promise “We individuals win” (#windividuals) and the employer values “grow, flow, show”, chosen to underline the sustainable values that form the foundation of CMS. These in­clude: Cre­at­ing an optimal environment for innovation and plenty of space for personal development (grow) Fos­ter­ing an open firm culture, an inclusive work environment, and appreciative interactions (flow) Show­cas­ing the cutting-edge expertise of its people (show) As Esther Brand­ner-Richter, Head of Human Resources at CMS in Vienna, explains, “The unique team behind our success unites diverse individuals with distinctive development trajectories – but always directed towards a common goal. That is the path we want to continue to pursue and to also make visible in our new employer branding. Our firm’s culture is the core of our employer brand. Going forward, we want to do even more to specifically foster our people’s individual talents. Because even in a traditional law firm environment, work should be fulfilling, fun, and offer enough flexibility for every­one.” Gün­ther Hanslik, Managing Partner at CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz, adds, “Our firm takes its social responsibility very seriously, building a sustainable culture through targeted initiatives that encompass all aspects of our work. It is a culture that allows everyone to fulfil their potential and grow, no matter what their background is – we champion diversity, solidarity, and in­clus­iv­ity.” Flex­ib­il­ity and space to adapt With its new employer branding, CMS also reinforces its image as a modern employer that practises New Work, and as a law firm that masters the challenges of today’s dynamic world of work. “In an age where the way we work is constantly changing, we recognise the importance of structuring your work individually,” says Esther Brand­ner-Richter. “Our people can set their working hours flexibly and benefit from a modern work environment that encourages creativity and cooperation. We embrace the concept of New Work. We value results, not working around the clock.” 
22/03/2024
CMS European M&A Study 2024
Press release - 22 March 2024
28/11/2023
CMS launches International Digital Regulation Hub providing a clear roadmap...
All businesses should be prepared to grasp the opportunities in digital regulation 
04/10/2023
ESG as the new imperative in real estate
Environmental, social, and ethical criteria will define the future of Austria’s real estate sector
22/05/2023
Europe-wide analysis on the fifth anniversary of the GDPR reveals data...
European data protection authorities imposed fines totalling over 2.7 billion euros in more than 1,500 publicly known cases for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation, which has been in...
02/02/2022
CMS strengthens its leadership team in CEE
Nedeljko Velisavljević promoted to CEE Partner
01/02/2022
Mia Kalajdžić and Saša Sodja promoted to partner; Irena Šik Bukovnik promoted...
Effective immediately, CMS Croatia and CMS Slovenia are each promoting one senior associate to partner, and CMS Slovenia is also promoting one to counsel. Mia Kalajdžić, formerly senior associate in the employment as well as the real estate and construction teams in Croatia, will now head the Croatian Employment Practice Area Group. Saša Sodja, formerly senior associate in the corporate and M&A team in Slovenia, will now head the Slovenian Corporate and M&A Practice. Irena Šik Bukovnik from Slovenia has been promoted to counsel and will continue to focus on banking and finance and restructuring matters. Mia Kalajdžić has close to a total of 10 years’ experience and six years of post-qual­i­fic­a­tion experience, mostly in employment law matters, advising international groups and companies on the full scope of employment and labour matters, whether they arise from daily work or from transactional and restructuring matters. Mia’s assistance to the management board members and HR departments is often strategic, including high level of implementational and operational support. CMS Croatia is Mia’s first law firm. Saša Sodja is a legal professional with more than 15 years of hands-on experience advising international and local clients in the legal sector. She has played an active role in most of the local and cross-border capital market transactions as well as mergers and acquisitions engagements handled by the Slovenian team. Saša provides all-round support and advice to clients from various industries all the way from organising and managing an M&A deal team to post-merger integrations. On top of regular legal engagements, Saša is also involved in activities that are shaping the future development of our firm such as sustainable business, a mentorship programme and last but not least di­git­al­isa­tion. CMS Slovenia has also promoted Irena Šik Bukovnik to the position of counsel for the firm in its Banking & Finance practice. Irena is a long-serving lawyer with CMS. She has more than 10 years of working experience in the legal branch, is a holder of an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law and is a member of the New York State Bar. Irena has expertise in banking & finance, insolvency & restructuring. Commenting on the appointments, Gregor Famira, Managing Partner of both CMS Croatia and CMS Slovenia, said: “With these promotions we are acknowledging high motivation, exemplary know-how, team spirit, innovative mindsets and a client-focused approach—the qualities CMS is looking for in their future leaders. Congratulations to all three of them.”Mia Kalajdžić commented: “I see my promotion to the position of partner as an honour and a responsibility, both towards our clients and my CMS team. I very much look forward to my future path in the firm and am excited about the challenges ahead.”Saša Sodja said: “I see my appointment as partner not just as an honour but also as recognition that I have the trust both of my team as well as my superiors and the wider CMS network. I'm ready for the future: I expect to see changes in the way law firms operate and, having become a partner, I am delighted that I will be able to play an even greater part in this.”
11/01/2022
CMS appoints Chief Marketing Officer
Frankfurt, 11 January 2022
29/07/2021
New Executive Director for CMS
Frankfurt, 29 July 2021
16/07/2021
Astrid Valek has taken over the management of both Business Development...
Since spring 2021, CMS Austria has been presenting itself under the motto Future Facing as part of a new global CMS strategy. Astrid Valek, who joins CMS Austria in a dual leadership position, will play...
07/06/2021
Esther Brandner-Richter entrusted with CMS human resources management for...
As an international commercial law firm, CMS provides comprehensive advice and accordingly also supports clients in all future issues. Esther Brandner-Richter recently took over as Head of Human Resources...